The gardens at the Dewey Short Visitor Center just south of Table Rock Dam are completely maintained by the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks - Dewey Short Visitor Center Garden Beds Committee. Funding is provided by the Army Corps of Engineers, who manage the center, the dam and the lake.

The Mission of the KAL Garden is to provide a garden environment in which plant based and reading activities generate interest and appreciation of reading and horticulture that lead to a lifelong pursuit of these beneficial activities.

The KAL Children’s Garden was initially the idea of MG Alice Troyke and also started out...believe it or not...as a two-year college project for MG Julie Jacob. Julie designed the garden and created the text for the interactive signs as part of her Horticultural Therapist training at Colorado State University.

The garden is flourishing under the leadership of current Chariwoman Julie Jacob and , past Co-Chairs Alice Troyke, Kathryn Kufahl and the dedicated committee members who work in the garden the first and third Wednesdays of the month during the growing season, rain or shine, hot or cold.

Volunteers for the library installed irrigation and maintain the grass. The garden is currently funded with grants from the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks and the Kimberling Area Library Association. 

Among our other projects, the Wildflower Rescue Project is most noteworthy. Chair-person Candy Clark and her committee members transplant native wildflowers that are in danger of being mowed or built-over because of "progress."

As one of the educational activities of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks, the speakers bureau is an effort to provide educational activities to the community.  Master Gardeners sign up for various presentations that they are knowledgeable in and willing to share with others.